A close season at the top of the table means that the Sunderland City Predators women’s volleyball team finished the season in mid-table, but were just eight points off of top spot.

An impressive second half of the season saw the Predators go on a five game winning streak, their best run of games all season.

Early in the season the Predators were unable to build on good results and push on to climb higher up the table. A win in their first game away at Leeds VC was followed up by back-to-back defeats – first to Coventry & Warwick Riga, then Birmingham Volleyball Club 2.

A familiar pattern of win then lose would begin after this as the Predators looked to kick start their stalling season.

The Wearsiders first back-to-back victories wouldn’t come until the middle of the campaign when they first took on DARKSTAR Derbyshire at home and managed a strong 3-1 win.

Then the reverse fixture of the Coventry & Warwick Riga match, this time away from home where the Predators came away with a resounding 3-0 victory.

After two positive performances, a home fixture against the eventually runners up, Manchester Marvels 1, ended in defeat for the Predators. This loss must have sparked something in the team as the next five matches all ended in triumph for the Wearside team.

After 18 matches Sunderland City Predators women ended on 40 points in fifth place. Top of the table Birmingham Volleyball Club 2 ended the season on 48 points.

A more consistent start to their campaign might have seen the Predators challenging for top spot in a very tight season.